Meeting other like minded people

Take a look at meetup.com. It to find out of events in your area. OK you probably can't actually meetup just yet but there may be other ways of making friends.

MollyAA12
Have yourself and H not thought of joining your local Lions ? I have one in my area and all are welcome.

I sympathise MollyAA12, as I don't have children or grandchildren either! I do have one "step grandchild" from my late husbands family - but this grown up young woman does not contact me, since her grandfather passed away.
My (newish) husband and I have just moved from Lincolnshire, where we did have good friends and neighbours, but we keep in touch by email, letter or text.
We are now in the far north of Scotland in a small village. Locals have said hello and seem friendly, but we will be looking to make new friends too!
I found a penfriend on Gransnet, though - and we regularly email each other, so it is possible to make friends on here. I replied directly to the poster, and we have been corresponding now for many months, so don't be put off!
I agree that interests in common are the key, and certainly volunteering is a good way to meet people. I cannot stand for very long, due to Arthritis and Peripheral Neuropathy in my feet, but I love reading, so joining a book club will be something I will look at when libraries are open again. I am considering selling off some of the many books I have (perhaps for Charity), since I cannot donate them to Charity Shops at the moment. I would have to leaflet my village in the hope of getting customers, and would need to check the legality of doing such a thing, I guess.
Good Luck with your search for new friends, be prepared to make the first move, and I'm sure it will work out for you.

I find it very difficult to make new friends, I've always been quiet shy and quite introverted but since working for charity i have made some lovely supportive friends. Could you find a charity you are interested in and both volunteer?

When we moved to a new area I joined U3A which has more than 30 different interest groups. I also volunteered at the local library and joined their book group where I met a different set of people.

Do you have a U3A group in your area, they’re great places to meet all sorts of people, all with different backgrounds and interests. Each group has very many other groups within it, almost anything you can think of, food, languages, history wine, dining out, books etc etc, so I’m sure you could meet many new friends.google it and see if you like the concept. X

Dirgni, snap, but I didn’t see your reply before I posted mine! Great minds x

@poppyred

Where does she clearly state she couldn’t?

Peasblossom

Wow, Bbbface That sounded a bit like ‘serve you right”.

I hope you didn’t mean it like that.

Can I ask why you thought that was important?

You most definitely got wrong end of stick

I was honestly simply wondering whether the op never wanted children but now has regrets because lonely.

No barbed comment. A genuine question

Bbbface I think you’ll see that she says “We are looked on as a little strange because I could not have children” in her original post.

I’m sure you didn’t intend to be hurtful by your question but for some people it’s a wound that never really heals and probing it is not kind.

We moved to Lincolnshire 2 years ago from Devon, no children/family in the area. I intended to join the local U3A, and a couple of other groups after 3 months to get the house sorted out. I was promptly invited to join the village WI as soon as we arrived, which I did. 2 months after our move I became very ill, and recovery took a long time, during which lockdown happened, so I never got to join the groups I wanted to. The WI have kept members in touch with each other by email and a monthly newsletter which has been great. We've also got to know several people in the village through dog walking and have formed a dogwalking group, which operates when the rules allow. I still intend to join groups when I can.

MollyAA12. So sorry to hear this. Maybe you both could try volunteering
For a charity or some local organisation where you would meet many people in a similar situation to yourselves. Good luck.

A single person seeking a special interest group can find it difficult as level of expertise , ability,and experience varies between individuals .

This difficulty is compounded if you specify 'childless couples only'. You would be better joining a church or some other general social group where you would meet a lot of people in a variety of relationships or none. U3A might suit you well, especially if you can do Zoom.

Many people do not care to spend time talking about children and grandchildren.

Hi Jeannie, wouldn’t take it too seriously if you don’t get a reply, I’ve spoken a few joke truths on here and expected a response... but didn’t happen. It is as others have said, if the post connects with people they will read, and some might reply, some might just want to read others points if view abc maybe pick up a few tips... I wouldn’t say there’s any rules, or cliques... so keep posting if you have something to get off your chest, or share with others

Op

You asked a question about how to make friends

Four pages later, multiple thoughtful and kind responses

And not even a thank you from you.

I would suggest that your approach may have something to do with your situation, and should be addressed before joining groups!

If you like singing but can’t sing, I would highly recommend Rock Choir which is a national organisation. There are no auditions and you don’t have to be able to read music, you just need to enjoy singing with others. Since I joined, I have sung at a rugby final at Wembley, the Edinburgh Fringe and at the Menin Gate in Ypres which was a very moving experience. Flash mobs are always fun and performing for charity rewarding. Choirs have been running throughout the pandemic on Zoom and YouTube but when restrictions are lifted, check out your nearest choir on www.rock choir.com.

Perhaps. Molly, you need to widen your horizons to include people who are in different circumstances to you. There are friendly people to meet up with who do have children, and who don't care whether all their friends have families or not. You must have been unlucky in whoever thought you were somehow odd to be childless.

It works both ways, of course. Do you find it odd to be in the company of people who have children, grandchildren, and/or other family? If you welcome people of all kinds, will they be more welcoming to you?

I enjoy GN and have found a lovely friend through it, we chat every day we dont live in the same country and exchange news and views.

I joined meetup when I lost friends when my now ex left me, we'd done lots together and I didn't want to go to things where I might meet him
I went to a few general get-togethers but didn't find them awfully helpful making friends, I went to something at a bar, a meal, for coffee, and with a big group and a noisy background really only 'met' the people next to me,so doing interest groups sounds much better. I don't know if you do facebook but I have joined some interest groups on there and met with some people who live locally. If you were to join a local history group or breed dog walking group, litter picking group or book group etc,or even just the local village group I think you stand more chance of finding someone to say hello to, and from there getting to know people locally

My Asian dil was asking me this today. She has found it hard to make friends as people here can be quite cliquey. She says the ladies in her group all meet for coffee so I said why not ask to join them . She says she is too shy.
I know it is hard because I belong to 2 clubs,golf and tennis and although I join the lunch group they rarely include me in chat. They have all known each other since school.

All my friends over my whole lifetime have been met through joining interest groups and the same applies to DH. I have also made one local friend through GN.

Occasionally one has been a bit cliquey, but when you join something because of a shared interest that is less likely to happen.

I agree with whoever said do something you like. I go to an art group which I love and cant wait to get back to!

Hi Jeanie,I know what you mean.Sometimes I wonder that myself if my messages go through.Maybe I'm doing something wrong I don't know.I hope this message gets to you okay.If it gets through to you okay it would be lovely to hear from you.I just joined a few days ago and I'm hoping to make a circle of friends on here.I have social anxiety and find it really hard to go out or talk to people.So I'm actually quite lonely.Its hard to build up a social circle when I always feel so uncomfortable with people.The people on here are all so kind and understanding.It would be good to hear from you.dee

Desperately in need of some genuine friends. Since leaving my pres shred job many years ago only have a handful of female friends. My husband has his hobbies, own friends + female comoanion. Won't be unfaithful but need company for going places, coffee, and attending theatre events. A driver. Any Suggestions ?

Have you heard of Oddfellows?
Google them. I met them locally and if they were nearer I’d have joined. Good Luck